variants and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in women from Central Mexico.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which dysregulated interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) may amplify pro-inflammatory pathways; prior genetic studies of IRF5 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in RA are inconsistent across populations and have not included mestizo Mexicans or evaluated rs59110799 in RA. We aimed to test whether four IRF5 SNVs (rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, rs10954213G/A, rs59110799G/T) confer susceptibility to RA in women from Central Mexico. In a case-control study of 239 women with RA and 231 female controls (all self-identified Mexican-Mestizos, ≥3 generations), genotyping was performed by real-time PCR with TaqMan® probes; 80% of samples were duplicated (100% concordance) and control genotypes conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Mortality Outcomes of Combined Heart and Liver Transplantation and Isolated Heart Transplantation Following Fontan Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Fontan-associated liver disease can progress to advanced fibrosis, raising the potential need for combined heart-liver transplantation (CHLT) in selected patients. However, the benefits of CHLT over isolated orthotopic heart transplantation (HT), particularly in terms of mortality, remain uncertain. In this systematic review, we compared mortality outcomes following CHLT versus HT in patients with Fontan circulation, with the aim of supporting clinical decision-making.

A Rare Intra-Atrial Cyst of Vascular Origin: Genetic Insights From a Case.

Background: Intra-atrial cysts are rare and often mistaken for neoplastic lesions. Vascular-origin cysts are even more uncommon. Limited genetic data hamper understanding of their pathogenesis and management.

Association of coarctation of aorta with Turner syndrome: a case report.

Background: Monosomy 45,X is commonly associated with congenital heart defects, particularly coarctation of the aorta (CoA). In this case, the patient developed respiratory distress due to hemodynamic instability from a large bidirectional patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) shunt and systemic hypoperfusion secondary to CoA, which complicated diagnosis and management.

Case Presentation: We report a 34-week premature female neonate weighing 1.

Arachidonic acid fuels inflammation by unlocking macrophage protein phosphatase 5 after myocardial infarction.

Background And Aims: An overactive inflammatory response and immune cell infiltration following myocardial infarction (MI) impair cardiac tissue repair. This study investigates the mechanistic role of the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic cascade in mediating post-MI inflammation.

Methods: Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis was performed to characterize cardiac macrophage heterogeneity in post-MI mice.

Clinical outcomes of intravascular lithotripsy according to the timing of stent failure: Insights from the COIL registry.

Background: Cumulative data has highlighted the efficacy of intra-vascular lithotripsy (IVL) in patients with stent failure (SF). However, it remains unclear whether the effectiveness of IVL, and subsequent clinical outcomes, are influenced by the timing of SF. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with SF undergoing IVL according to the age of index stent implantation.

Eustachian valve endocarditis in the context of right atrial embryonic remnants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Eustachian valve endocarditis (EVE) is a rare right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) manifestation. This condition has scattered and limited clinical characteristics that require collection and systematization. This meta-analysis evaluates the predisposing factors, pathogens, and associated risk profiles in EVE cases.

Importance of an online educational platform for heart failure nurses in Poland: the results of the survey.

Background: Heart failure (HF) nurses play an important role in heart failure management. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of HF nurses in Poland regarding HF management.

Methods: 97 nurses from Poland provided their consent and completed an online questionnaire comprised of 20 questions.

Impact of Mild and Moderate Aortic Stenosis in Acute Heart Failure: Insights from RELAX-AHF-2.

Background: Aortic stenosis leads to increased afterload, which may be detrimental in a failing left ventricle and has been associated with increased risk of heart failure hospitalizations and mortality in chronic heart failure. The prevalence and impact of aortic stenosis in acute heart failure is less well described. This post hoc analysis aimed to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic impact of aortic stenosis in a large cohort of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.

Clinical care of family members of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Genetic family screening following the detection of a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in a proband with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains one of the main applications of genetic testing. While cardiac screening is recommended for all first-degree relatives, the a priori risk among family members varies. Consequently, screening regimens should be tailored according to both genetic and clinical information at the individual and familial level.

Comparative efficacy and safety of POLARx versus Arctic front advance pro cryoballoon systems for pulmonary vein isolation in atrial fibrillation: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cryoballoon (CB) ablation is a well-established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). The Arctic Front Advance Pro™ (AFA-Pro) system, in use for over a decade, has demonstrated consistent efficacy and safety. Recently, the POLARx™, a novel CB system, has gained attention due to its advanced design and comparable clinical outcomes.

Frequency and Clinical Correlates of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Thyroid dysfunction commonly coexists with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), compounding metabolic derangements and increasing the risk of complications. Despite its clinical significance, the prevalence and spectrum of thyroid dysfunction among South Asian patients with T2DM remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to determine the frequency and types of thyroid dysfunction in patients with T2DM and to examine its associations with demographic characteristics, glycemic control, metabolic parameters, and microvascular complications.

The thrill is vanished: Percutaneous exclusion of post trans radial arteriovenous fistula using stent graft through transbrachial approach.

Radial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) following radial intervention is exceedingly scarce. Here, we report a case of a 73-year-old man who was admitted with acute myocardial ischaemic syndrome and underwent transradial angioplasty of the proximal left anterior descending and circumflex artery. Fourteen months later, he presented with progressive swelling, dilated superficial veins, a palpable thrill, continuous bruit, and tingling at the local site.

Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibition and Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy -Primary results of the multicENter, randomized, open-label, parallel group, study to evaluate the use of sacubitril/valsartan in HeartMate 3 LVAD recipients (ENVAD-HF).

Background: The role of heart failure specific therapies in LVAD recipients is unclear and observational data suggest improved outcomes with neurohormonal blockers. ENVAD-HF evaluated safety and tolerability of the Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan, for managing blood pressure (BP) in HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD recipients versus standard of care (SOC).

Methods: ENVAD-HF was a prospective multicenter, randomized, open-label study of sacubitril/valsartan or SOC for managing BP (MAP goal 75-90 mmHg) in stable LVAD recipients with 12-month follow-up.

Deep Learning-Driven Automated Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Echocardiography.

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and diagnostic performance of a fully automated deep learning model for assessing left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) using 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Methods And Results: In this prospective observational study, 302 patients underwent 2D TTE for suspected diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic parameters, such as mitral inflow velocities, tissue Doppler indices, left atrial volumes, and tricuspid regurgitation velocity, were automatically analyzed using AI-based software (Ligence Heart) and compared with expert manual measurements.

Hypertensive acute heart failure: a critical perspective on definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and prognosis-a narrative review: a joint session with the Romanian Society of Cardiology (part II).

Hypertensive acute heart failure (HT-AHF) has historically been recognized as a distinct clinical phenotype of AHF, characterized by acute pulmonary congestion in the context of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP), typically > 140 mmHg. However, emerging evidence has begun to challenge the diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, and relevance of this category. A main criticism of HT-AHF is its considerable overlap with other AHF clinical profiles, including acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and acute pulmonary oedema (APO).